In a book written by Joseph Campbell, ‘Reflections on the Art of Living’ he has explained how coexisting with nature is essential for humans. Multiple scientific experiments and studies also support this claim and have found that being near nature reduces stress, and improves physical & mental health.
According to the biophilia hypothesis, humans have an innate tendency to connect with nature and other living beings. It is therefore a key part of our successes, in general.
In preparation for the return to the office over the next few months- how do we rebuild this connection with nature during our time at work?
Business leaders have used outdoor spaces on their campus to allow their employees to connect with nature. Post-covid, this is even more important to ease the transition back into the office, albeit in a hybrid way- requiring teams to come in for a few days a week.
Even HR leaders have understood that not only will such a move come as a pleasant break from the months spent working from home, but will also benefit the business.
Studies prove that effective employee training sessions are those that are conducted outdoors. Outdoor spaces can also be used to conduct group discussions and open forums, where employees can discuss their challenges, indulge in blue-sky thinking and critically analyze business problems.
PHI Space works with companies to design and deploy outdoor workspaces that have all the conveniences of a tech-powered indoor office space, and yet connects the user with nature through a biophilic, collaborative space.
A space transformation exercise for a Capitaland campus in Hyderabad, has introduced an outdoor collaborative space that incorporates meeting rooms, event spaces and an F&B area. While they wait for more people to return to work to actively find a way to engage with tenants, it is a solid step in the right direction.
In cases where working outdoors may not be possible, several “indoor plantscaping” solutions exist. PHI’s Nature at Work advisory helps facilities and asset managers to deliver a natural, green environment conducive to collaboration and productivity.